Electric switch.



L. B. SEARS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.27, 1915.

Patented May 1, 1917'.

iii 5 fin LOUIS .B. SEARS, OF CURRY, YENNSYLVANI A.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 27, 1915. Serial No. 83,746.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS B. SE ARs, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Corry, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Swit ches, of which the following is a spec1ficat1on.

This invention relates to electric sw tches and consists in certain improvementsin the construction thereof as will be here nafter fully described and pointed out 1n the claims.

More particularly the inventlon relates to a system of switches that can be operated only in a known way by the operator and preferably providing means for sounding an alarm Where an attempt is made to operate the switch in other than the known way. In carrying out the invention I utilize a number of operating means such as push buttons and utilize a portion of them less than the entire number for controll ng what may be termed the service circu t, so arranging the device that upon operatlon of less than this number or any other push button than that of the predetermined number, it will not only fail to close the service circuit but will sound an alarm.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device.

Fig. 2 a front elevation, partly in section.

Fig. 3 a cross section through one of the press buttons.

Fig. 4. a perspective View of one of the upper switches. v

Fig. 5 a perspective view of one of the lower switches.

Fig. 6 a diagram showing the system of wiring.

1, 2, 3, l, 5, designate the push buttons which form the operating means for the switch. These are mounted in a case having the top plate 6, front plate 7, end plates 8, rear plate 9 and bottom plate 12. These plates are preferably of insulating material. The end plates are provided with perforations 10 through which the wiring may be carried.

Push buttons extend through the perforations 6* in the top plate and extend into sockets 11 in the bottom plate. Springs 11 are arranged in the sockets 11 below the ush buttons and push them upwardly. lach push button is provided with a collar or shoulder 13, which, is located somewhat above the lower end of the push button or pin and between the top and bottom plates. A series of switches formed of the switch elements a and b are secured to the under side of the top plate 6. The element a has the contact end (1 arranged in a depression in the front face of the top plate, the perforation a which may be secured to the top plate 6 and the forked end a the forks of which extend each side ofthe' push pin. The switch element b has the contact end I), the perforation b for securing it to the under side of the plates 6 and the forked end 6 the forks of which extend each side of the push pin. The forked ends a and b will move out of the contact as indicated in the diagram, Fig. 6 and in Fig. 2, when relieved of pressure -from the shoulder 13. The spring 11 is of sufiicient strength to lift the push button and the shoulder 13 so that normally the elements a and b are in contact.

The switch elements 0 and d are secured to the lower plate 12. The switch element 0 has-the connection or the post end 0 and the perforations c by means of which the element 0 is secured to the bottom plate. It also has a contact point 0 One element 0 is arranged at each side of each push pin, the connecting end 0 being at the front edge of the plate 12, the plate 12 having a depression 12 for this purpose. The element d of the lower switches has the contact end d which extends into the depression 12 and has the perforations d by means of which it is secured to the plate 12. It has the spring contact extension 03 which extends over the point- 0 The contact spring (1 is normally out of contact with the point 0 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 but when the buttons are depressed, the shoulder 13 engages the spring contact d one at each side of the pin and forces this spring contact into contact with the pin 0 The wiring is shown in Fig. 6 and is so arranged as to require a depression of the buttons 2, 3 and 5 to close the service circuit. A depression of less than this number of buttons will not close the service circuit but on the contrary will sound an alarm and the depression of the pins 1 and 4 will not close the service circuit but on the con:

trary will sound an alarm.

The service circuit has the wire S which is led to the switch element a for button 1.

Patented ay a, rare A wire S connects the element 6 of the button 1 with the element at at the left of button 2. The wire '8 connects the element a .at the left of button 2 with lthe element 01 1 5 at the left of button 3. The wire S connects the element at the left of button 3 with theelement a at the left of button 4. The wire S connects the element 6 of'button' 1 .with the element 01 at the left of button 5.-

- 1d The wire S forming the return the other side of the circuit S is connected with the element cat the left of button .5.

It can be readily seen that if buttons 2, 3 and 5 are depressed, 1 and 4; bemg in them upper position so that their switch elements a and b are in contact, the service circuit will be' closed by way of the w re S, the elements a and I) of button 1, wire S the elements 0 and d at the left of button 2, the.

2owire S the elements at and c at the left of button 3, the wire St, the elements a and b,

of button 4, the wire S the'elements (Z and c at the left of button 5 to the return wire S. It can also be observed that the depression of any other combination or less than this combination will not close the servicecircuit. As for instance, if either the buttons 1 or tare depressed, the switches a and bof these buttons will be opened and if any one one of the switches'c or 01 will be open.

The secondary circuit, which ordinar ly will be an alarm circuit, comes in at X. This has branch wires; X leading to the element cat the right of button 1; wire X leading to the element 0 at the right of button 2; wire X leading tothe element 0 at the right of button 3; wire X leading to' the element 0 at the right of button 4; wlre X leading to the element 0 at the right of button 5. The return wire X is connected v the button 5. A branch of the return wire X extends by wire X to theelement a of the button 2 and branch wires X lead from the wire X to the element a of button 3 and element a of button 5. The coupling wire X is connected by wire X with the element 6 of button 2 by wire X with the element (1 at the right of button 2 The wire X is also connected with the element b of button 3 by wire X and element d at the right of button 3 by wire X and also with the element 6 of button 5 by wire X and element 01 at the right of button '5 by wire 55 X". By this arrangement if any of the butof the buttons 2, 3 or 5 are not depressed,

close the; switch formed of the. elements 0 and d at the right of the button. The curtom 2, 3on5 are depressed less than the 1 whole number inthe combination 2, 3 and 5, the secondary alarm circuit willbe closed.

rent will then pass by way of wire X and X and through the elements 0 and d, the wire X wire X wire X wire X elements (1. and b, Wire X wire X, wire X Assuming that the button 3 is depressed so that the current cannot follow through the switch wand b of thisbutton, the current will be carried across the wire X aiid will be bridged by way of wire X and switch elements a and b ofbutton 5 and'thence by wire X to the wire X". This circuit, however, will'be opened if all three buttons 2,3 and 5 are epressed. A similar analysis with'relation to the depression of buttons 3 .and 5 both together or separately, will show that in each instance the alarm circuit will i "be closed.

In operating the device,v the operator simply depresses the combination which is predetennined, in this case 2, 3 and '5. This will close the first or service circuit and will not .close the second or alarm circuit. The depression of any other button or-combination of buttons will not close the service circuit but will close the alarm circuit. The device may be used for operating looks or for controlling. the electric circuit on automobiles or any other device where it is desired to confine the operation to avperson having knowledge of the combination.

What I claim as new is A 1. In an electric switch, the combination of an electric conductor ;/a series of switches for said conductor, at least one of the series being normally 0 on and one of the series being normally 0 osed; and push buttons directly actuating said switches, said circult bemg made operative only upon the action of certain buttons and made inoperative with the action of any other button.

2 In an electric switch, the combination of a first electric conductor; a second electric conductor; a series of switches for said first conductor; a-serles of swltches for saidsecond conductor; and a series of operating means greater in number than the switches,

certain "of which operate the switches in a erating on both conductors, some of said first conductor and some of said switches being normally open as to the first conductor.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of a first conductor; a second conductor; a series of switches for said conductors; and a single means controlling the switches operating on both conductors, some of said switches being normally closed as to the first conductor and some of said switches being normally. open as to the first conductor, said means operating in connection to open the second conductor when the combination for closing the first conductor is operated.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of a first conductor; a second conductor; a

series of switches for said conductors; and operating keys for operating said switches in pairs, each key operating a switch on each conductor, a combination of said keys closing the first conductor and the operation of any of the other keys opening said first conductor by the direct act1on of said keys.

6. In" an electric switch, the combination of a first conductor; a second conductor; a

series of operating means; a first series of switches controlling said first conductor only on the actuation of a certain combination of said means; and a second series of switches controlling the second conductor on any actuation of saidmeans other than said first mentioned actuation.

7. In an electric switch, the combination of a first conductor; a second conductor; a series of switch operating'means;a first series of switches normally closed by said means; a second series of switches normally open and adapted to be closed by said means; and connections between said conductors and said switches carrying the circuit through the firstconductor only upon the operationof a certain combination of said means and through the second conductor upon the operation of any other of said means. a

8. In an electric switch, the combination of the frame comprising top and bottom plates, the top plate having perforations and the bottom plates sockets in register therewith; push pins arranged throughsaid perforations extending into said sockets and aving shoulders thereon; springs in said' sockets adapted to operate against said pins; a series of switch elements arranged on the top plate and normally closed by the engagement of the shoulder on the pins through the action of the springs; a series of switches, one at each side of each pin on the bottom plate adapted to be closed by the depression of said pins; a first conductor; a second conductor; and wiring between said conductors and said switches carrying the circuit through the first conductorlupon the depression of a given combination of push pins and carrying the circuit through the second conductor upon the depression of any other combination of said push pins.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS B. SEARS. 

